Courtesy Freepik
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Independent moviegoers in Queens and Brooklyn will have a rare opportunity to see local cinemas take center stage during the city’s first-ever Art House Cinema Week, set for March 20–26. The initiative, announced by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and Art House New York (AHNY), will feature screenings at nearly 30 independent theaters across the city.
“MOME, in partnership with Art House NY, is proud to help kick off NYC’s inaugural Cinema Week by funding 5,000 free tickets, so more New Yorkers can experience the magic of cinema while supporting their local theaters. This initiative reflects our vision for an inclusive creative economy that supports the people who make art, the people who experience it, and the venues that bring it to life. At a time when many New Yorkers and independent theaters are feeling the squeeze of the affordability crisis, we’re stepping in with a simple way to open doors and strengthen our creative ecosystem. I hope to see you at the movies!” said Rafael Espinal, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME).
Espinal, who previously led the Freelancer’s Union, emphasized the local and community focus of the week. “Well, first and foremost, it’s going to serve to highlight the city’s vibrant cultural institutions and provide New Yorkers the opportunities to rediscover their local independent cinemas and be able to come together. You know, in these theaters is a greater community experience and enjoy the art of filmmaking. What I love about this initiative in particular is that we’re doing three things right. One, we’re supporting the small businesses that provide avenues for this art to be experienced by New Yorkers. Two, we’re making affordable, if not free, for everyday New Yorkers to be able to access the culture these spaces provide. And we’re supporting the greater economy, because I think we all know that the trend towards watching cinema in the theaters has been on a downward spiral, and we’re open to re-engage and re-motivate folks to get back into the movie theaters, for sure.”
The event offers a mix of perks, including discounted memberships, reduced concession prices, and curated programming ranging from cult classics to documentary premieres. Several theaters in Queens and Brooklyn will take part in Cinema Week, offering special screenings and promotions aimed at bringing audiences back to neighborhood cinemas. In Queens, participating venues include UnionDocs in Ridgewood; Kew Gardens Cinemas, which is offering $5 admission for all shows during Cinema Week; and Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, which is offering 10% off new memberships and hosting screenings of films from 25 years ago, including the Made in NY film The Royal Tenenbaums. Brooklyn participants include Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn, Brooklyn Academy of Music – Cinématek, Cobble Hill Cinemas, Nitehawk Cinema, and Williamsburg Cinema.
Espinal noted his personal connection to Queens theaters. “I went to CUNY Queens College, and on the way home, back to East New York, Brooklyn, I’ll have the path in Forest Hills Queens. And as a big cinema buff myself, I was really interested in seeing this independent film called Broken Flowers by Jim Jarmusch, which starred, which starred, what’s his name, Bill Murray, and it was the first time I would say, you know, as a college student, maybe as a young adult, where I bought a ticket by myself and sat down and was able to experience an independent film. And it was just memorable experience for me to be able to do that, and to be able to have access to films that normally aren’t shown in more mainstream theaters, was amazing. I think, you know, that experience in itself, I think, reinforces why these theaters are so important.”
The free tickets are available to eligible New Yorkers, including CUNY students, teachers, military personnel, SNAP/EBT cardholders, and families registered with Cool Culture. No advance registration is required; tickets can be picked up directly at participating theaters.
Cinema Week organizers hope this inaugural event becomes an annual fixture. “I think I would say that this is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to get off the couch and be able to go out with their families and experience movies how they were intended to be, to be experienced, and that’s in the movie theater,” Espinal said.
For more information on participating theaters and programming, visit www.arthouseny.org.
